Suffer Little Children Read Free Page B

sagas, poems and histories in Ogham, the ancient alphabet, which was still used in some parts of Muman. In that Tech Screptra the little girl’s imagination and thirst for knowledge had been awakened.
    Fidelma paused briefly, feeling a little overwhelmed by
nostalgia, and smiling at her memories. Several brothers of the Faith were seated there poring over those same books by the light of smoking tallow candles.
    She realised that Colgú was waiting impatiently for her.
    â€˜I see you still open the library to scholars of the church,’ she said approvingly as she joined him and they moved on. The great library of Cashel was the personal property of the kings of Muman.
    â€˜It will not be otherwise while we are of the Faith,’ Colgú replied firmly.
    â€˜Yet I have heard some stories that certain narrow-minded members of the Faith have been burning the ancient texts, the “rods of the poets”, on the grounds that they were written by idolatrous pagans. In Cashel, there are many such books. Do you still preserve them from such intolerance?’
    â€˜Surely intolerance is incompatible with the Faith, little sister?’ Colgú observed wryly.
    â€˜I would say so. Others might not. I am told that Colman of Cork has suggested that all pagan books should be destroyed. Yet I say that we have a duty to ensure that the treasures of our people are not incinerated and lost because of fashionable intolerance.’
    Colgú chuckled dryly.
    â€˜The matter is academic anyway. Colmán of Cork has fled this kingdom for fear of the plague. His voice no longer counts.’
    Colgú continued to lead the way beyond the Tech Screptra and through the tiny family chapel. There were many stories handed down in Fidelma’s family of how the Blessed Patrick himself had arrived at Cashel and had proceeded to convert their ancestor, King Conall Corc, to the new Faith. One story told how he had used the meadow trefoil, the seamróg, to demonstrate the idea of the Holy Trinity to Conall. Not that it was a difficult concept to understand, for all the pagan gods of ancient Ireland were triune gods, being three personalities in
the one god. Fidelma had always carried a sense of time and place with her.
    They passed beyond the chapel to the private chambers of the family and their immediate retinue, which were placed beyond the more generally accessible reception rooms.
    A chamber had been prepared for her, with a newly lit fire blazing in the hearth. It was the very room in which she had been born and where she had spent the early years of her life. It had hardly changed.
    Before the fire, a table had been set with food and wine.
    Colgú waved his sister to a chair.
    â€˜Let us eat, and as we eat I will attempt to explain why King Cathal called you hither.’
    Fidelma did as he bid her. She realised that her journey had been long and uncomfortable and that she was ravenous.
    â€˜Are you sure our cousin is too ill to see me?’ she queried, still hesitating before the meal. ‘I do not fear the Yellow Plague. These last two years I have crossed its path in safety many times. And if I do succumb, well, then surely it will be God’s will.’
    Colgú shook his head despondently.
    â€˜Cathal is no longer in a state to even recognise me. His physician says he may not last this night. In fact, the arrogant Forbassach of Laigin was right. It is now my duty to reply to his demands.’
    Fidelma compressed her lips as she realised what that meant.
    â€˜If Cathal dies this night then you will be … ?’
    She paused, realising that it was improper to voice the thought while their elderly cousin was alive.
    Colgú, however, finished the sentence for her with a bitter laugh.
    â€˜That I shall then be king of Muman? Yes, that is exactly what it means.’
    The Eóganacht kings, like all Irish kings and chieftains,
were elected into office by the derbfhine of their families. On